Cutler benefiting from year in system

With Jay Cutler operating the same offense for a second straight year, the quarterback’s increased comfort level has been evident to coordinator Aaron Kromer every day in practice.

With Jay Cutler operating the same offense for a second straight year, the quarterback’s increased comfort level has been evident to coordinator Aaron Kromer every day in practice.

“Jay has learned to solve his own problems on the field,” Kromer said. “He’s much quicker this year with his reads. He knew them last year; don’t get me wrong. He had a good year, one of the best of his career. But it’s even happening faster for him.”

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler works with coach Marc Trestman during practice in Bourbonnais.

Working with Kromer and coach Marc Trestman for the first time in 2013, Cutler posted a career-high 89.2 passer rating, throwing for 2,621 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games. If he stays healthy, Cutler could put up even more impressive numbers in 2014.

“He’s understanding everything he’s seeing.” Kromer said. “He’s seeing the defensive line. He’s making the calls of who we want to ‘Mike.’ He’s directing everything and then getting us in the correct call if we give him more than one play. It’s just happening at a faster pace, and that’s going to help our offense.”

Cutler’s familiarity with the system has been on display throughout the Bears’ three-week stint in Bourbonnais, which ends Wednesday following meetings and a walkthrough.

“I thought he had an excellent camp,” Trestman said. “He was consistent throughout. He was locked in during each and every practice. He played it like a game. Overall, I thought he was just excellent with the football team, managing the team, managing the practices.”

Backup plan: The competition for the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback position continues, with Trestman revealing Tuesday that Jimmy Clausen will relieve Cutler and Jordan Palmer will follow Clausen in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Jaguars.

The order was reversed last Friday night versus the Eagles, when Palmer completed 8 of 11 passes for 104 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a 94.5 passer rating before yielding to Clausen, who connected on 7 of 13 passes for 150 yards with two TDs and a 134.6 rating.

“They’re both making plays,” Trestman said. “They’re competing. I’ve talked to both of them that nothing’s set in stone from last week. We grade them every day. We’re watching all the tape. We’re making the corrections with each of them. It’s still a competition, and they know it.”

Packing up: The Bears conducted their last full practice of training camp Tuesday in Bourbonnais.

“It was a very good camp,” Trestman said. “I thought we did a great job of focusing when we need to focus on our work. I think the guys really paid attention to trying to get better and we’re just going to move on. That’s what we’re trying to do each and every day is get better.”

Kromer deemed it a successful three weeks, saying: “You can see the knowledge that our players have with the offense. You can see their development. You can see competition going on everywhere. The hardest thing for us as coaches and the evaluating staff with personnel is going to be picking this team. That’s where you want to be.”

On the shelf: Right tackle Jordan Mills remains sidelined with a sore left foot, but Kromer doesn’t seem too concerned.

“Jordan had a lot of good reps early in training camp and a couple days off,” Kromer said. “I don’t think it’s going to hurt him. We hope to get him back soon, and we think we can.”

The Bears list Mills as day-to-day.

“He’s doing the things he needs to do,” Trestman said. “I don’t want to put a time limit on this thing. We’ll just see. When the trainers and doctors say he’s ready to go, he’ll be out there.”

With Jay Cutler operating the same offense for a second straight year, the quarterback’s increased comfort level has been evident to coordinator Aaron Kromer every day in practice.

“Jay has learned to solve his own problems on the field,” Kromer said. “He’s much quicker this year with his reads. He knew them last year; don’t get me wrong. He had a good year, one of the best of his career. But it’s even happening faster for him.”

Working with Kromer and coach Marc Trestman for the first time in 2013, Cutler posted a career-high 89.2 passer rating, throwing for 2,621 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games. If he stays healthy, Cutler could put up even more impressive numbers in 2014.

“He’s understanding everything he’s seeing.” Kromer said. “He’s seeing the defensive line. He’s making the calls of who we want to ‘Mike.’ He’s directing everything and then getting us in the correct call if we give him more than one play. It’s just happening at a faster pace, and that’s going to help our offense.”

Cutler’s familiarity with the system has been on display throughout the Bears’ three-week stint in Bourbonnais, which ends Wednesday following meetings and a walkthrough.

“I thought he had an excellent camp,” Trestman said. “He was consistent throughout. He was locked in during each and every practice. He played it like a game. Overall, I thought he was just excellent with the football team, managing the team, managing the practices.”

Backup plan: The competition for the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback position continues, with Trestman revealing Tuesday that Jimmy Clausen will relieve Cutler and Jordan Palmer will follow Clausen in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Jaguars.

The order was reversed last Friday night versus the Eagles, when Palmer completed 8 of 11 passes for 104 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a 94.5 passer rating before yielding to Clausen, who connected on 7 of 13 passes for 150 yards with two TDs and a 134.6 rating.

“They’re both making plays,” Trestman said. “They’re competing. I’ve talked to both of them that nothing’s set in stone from last week. We grade them every day. We’re watching all the tape. We’re making the corrections with each of them. It’s still a competition, and they know it.”

Packing up: The Bears conducted their last full practice of training camp Tuesday in Bourbonnais.

“It was a very good camp,” Trestman said. “I thought we did a great job of focusing when we need to focus on our work. I think the guys really paid attention to trying to get better and we’re just going to move on. That’s what we’re trying to do each and every day is get better.”

Kromer deemed it a successful three weeks, saying: “You can see the knowledge that our players have with the offense. You can see their development. You can see competition going on everywhere. The hardest thing for us as coaches and the evaluating staff with personnel is going to be picking this team. That’s where you want to be.”

On the shelf: Right tackle Jordan Mills remains sidelined with a sore left foot, but Kromer doesn’t seem too concerned.

“Jordan had a lot of good reps early in training camp and a couple days off,” Kromer said. “I don’t think it’s going to hurt him. We hope to get him back soon, and we think we can.”

The Bears list Mills as day-to-day.

“He’s doing the things he needs to do,” Trestman said. “I don’t want to put a time limit on this thing. We’ll just see. When the trainers and doctors say he’s ready to do, he’ll be out there.”